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The major axis of an ellipse is its longest diameter, a line that runs through the center and both foci, its ends being at the widest points of the shape.

The semi-major axis is one half of the major axis, and thus runs from the centre, through a focus, and to the edge of the ellipse. It represents a "long radius" of the ellipse, and is the "average" distance of an orbiting planet or moon from its parent body.

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12y ago
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15y ago

The distance from one of the foci to the center of the ellipse divided by the eccentricity.

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Q: What is also known as the semimajor axis?
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What is a semimajor axis of an ellipse?

The major axis is the diameter across the widest part. The semimajor axis is half that, and for a planet it's the average of the maximum and minimum distances from the Sun .


What is the semimajor axis of a circle of diameter 24 cm?

The major and minor axes of a circle are the same - either is any diameter. So a semimajor axis is half the diameter which is 12 cm.


How do Kepler's 3 laws of motion combined with the parts of an ellipse explain the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the sun based on its length?

One of the parts of an ellipse is the length of its major axis. Half that is called the semimajor axis. Kepler's 3rd law says that the time to do one orbit is proportional to the 3/2 power of the semimajor axis. IF the semimajor axis is one astronomical unit the period is one year (the Earth). For a planet with a semimajor axis of 4 AUs the period would have to be 8 years, by Kepler-3.


How do Keplers 3 laws of motion combined with the parts of an ellipse explain the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the sun based on its length?

One of the parts of an ellipse is the length of its major axis. Half that is called the semimajor axis. Kepler's 3rd law says that the time to do one orbit is proportional to the 3/2 power of the semimajor axis. IF the semimajor axis is one astronomical unit the period is one year (the Earth). For a planet with a semimajor axis of 4 AUs the period would have to be 8 years, by Kepler-3.


The period of revolution is related to?

the period of revolution is related to the semimajor axis.... :)


If a semimajor axis is 2.77au what is period of Ceres years?

Using Kepler's third law, the period (P) of an object in orbit can be calculated using the formula P^2 = a^3, where a is the semimajor axis in astronomical units (au). For Ceres with a semimajor axis of 2.77 au, the period of its orbit around the Sun is approximately 4.61 years.


What is the significance of the semimajor axis of planets in understanding their orbits and distances from the sun?

The semimajor axis of a planet's orbit is important because it determines the size and shape of the orbit, as well as the distance of the planet from the sun. It helps us understand the planet's position in relation to the sun and other planets, and provides valuable information about the planet's orbital characteristics.


What does the semimajor axis of a planet with a period of 12 earth years measure?

That can be calculated from Kepler's 3rd law which says if the period is T years the semimajor axis must be T2/3 astronomical units. So for a period of 12 years the s/m axis is 5.421 AU or 784 million km.


What is another name for a horizontal axis on a graph?

The horizontal axis is also known as the 'X' axis. The vertical axis is also known as the 'Y' axis.


Where is Makemake located in the solar system?

Its average distance from the Sun (to be more precise, its semimajor axis) is about 46 AU.


What is y-Axis also known as?

The vertical axis


What is the semimajor axis of Mercury's orbit around the Sun?

Oh, an interesting question! Mercury's semimajor axis - which is the distance from the center of the Sun to the farthest point of Mercury's orbit - is about 0.39 astronomical units, or around 57.9 million kilometers. That's a nice and cozy space for our little Mercury to dance gracefully around the warm Sun. Nature has a way of creating beauty in all the details like this, doesn't it?